Wolves hold Newcastle to 1-1 draw
Willy Boly scored a dramatic 95th-minute equaliser as Wolves denied Newcastle a crucial win with a 1-1 draw on Monday night.
It looked as though Newcastle were about to pull away from the relegation zone after Isaac Hayden (56) took advantage of some flimsy goalkeeping from Rui Patricio to score his first goal since October 2017.
Wolves were strangely disjointed in their bid for a fourth straight win but staged one final push and Boly rose above Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to nod home with the last attack of the game.
The result leaves Rafa Benitez’s side one point above the drop zone in 16th while Wolves remain seventh. Newcastle gave £21m record signing Miguel Almiron a second-half debut as he saw up close the excitement of Premier League football. The visitors carried little threat in attacking areas but Wolves were equally as blunt in a stodgy opening 45 minutes.
Raul Jimenez had the best opening of the half but his low effort was pushed away by Dubravka.
Wolves came close to opening the scoring three minutes after the break.
Matt Doherty reacted to a knockdown at the back post but hooked an effort over the crossbar under pressure from the tireless Sean Longstaff.
But the hosts were then caught cold on 56 minutes. Fabian Schar released Hayden into the box and his strike was straight at Patricio but he could only flap the ball into the net.
Wolves created little in response as Newcastle were expertly organised without the ball, although Jimenez did miscue a header from six yards out.
But Wolves had claimed seven points with goals in the final 10 minutes of games this season and maintained their staying power as Boly was too strong for Dubravka in the final minute and nodded home to leave Newcastle dumbfounded.
Wolves have the chance to make the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday against Bristol City while Newcastle have 12 days until their next fixture, which sees them take on Huddersfield.
Benitez upset with officials
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez feels Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stoppage time equaliser by Willy Boly in their 1-1 draw at the Molineux on Monday should have been disallowed.
Benitez felt the Wolves defender fouled goalkeeper Martin Dubravka by laying hands on the Newcastle goalkeeper while going up for the header and immediately had a word with referee Graham Scott after the full time whistle.
“In England they don’t understand the rules. I can say many things but it will not change anything,” Benitez told reporters after the game.
“I didn’t like the challenge at the end, you have to protect the keeper. We have been here for years and it’s still very difficult to explain that.”
Benitez said Dubravka could have handled the cross better.
“Martin was talking about more protection, Jamaal (defender Jamaal Lascelles) was saying that maybe Martin could deal with the cross in another way,” the manager said.
“It’s a bad way to concede. We had one more point but it is a pity because we could have had three.”
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